My dog is hacking and choking for an hour. Is this an emergency?

Coughing is not usually a sign of kidney disease - it's possible that Pixi has a respiratory infection, inflammation of her nose and throat, or even something more serious like heart disease. I would definitely recommend having her examined by a vet - if she seems to be having difficulty breathing or she is coughing so much she can't rest I'd recommend seeing an emergency vet today.

Call your vet clinic back, tell them it's urgent, and if they can't see or accept her as a drop-off, take her to someone else who will see her. She may have eaten something toxic, that didn't agree with her, she could have swallowed a non-food item that is now causing a blockage, she could have an infection, there are a number of possibilities. Your vet will do an exam, labwork, and x-rays to determine why she is ill and based on those results they will be better able to tell you what is wrong and how best to treat it.

He likely aspirated some food. If it's just one day of hacking, then it's OK to wait and see if it clears in the next day or two. However, we always worry about aspiration pneumonia, which can be more serious. If the hacking persists for more than two days and is not getting better, then it's best to take him to the vet. If your dog has always done this, then I would not be too worried about a condition causing him to gag when eating. However, if this gagging is recent (within the last year), then I would get him checked-out by a vet. I'm particularly concerned about laryngeal paralysis, which can happen in older dogs and cause them to aspirate their food and water. I hope that helps and Anubis gets better soon.

Hello. Unfortunately, this does sound like a problem that should be sorted out by your veterinarian. This could be an infection like tracheobronchitis, or even more serious like pneumonia. I would have Crystal seen as soon as convenient. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello! I would recommend taking Mercy into the vet to be checked. Excessive hacking isn't a normal behavior. Sometimes dogs that chew on sticks can get sharp pieces stuck in their tonsils, which gives them a constantly scratchy throat. It could be that the hacking is actually a cough and a sign of an respiratory problem, such as bronchitis. Some dogs also experience acid-reflux, which can cause hacking. Your vet can perform a physical exam and listen for signs of inflammation in her lungs, and may recommend some sedation for a thorough oral examination to ensure she doesn't have anything stuck in the back of her throat. I would recommend trying to get video of her hacking behavior prior to visiting the vet, as this will greatly help them differentiate the cause. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello! It would be helpful to know how long Ellie has had this cough, if she is vaccinated, and if she has been around any other dogs. At her young age, I would be worried about her contracting something contagious. Kennel cough usually runs its course without problems, but sometimes can progress to pneumonia. It is similar to a human common cold. However, canine influenza and canine distemper can both present in young pups as upper respiratory signs and both of these viral infections require treatment from a veterinarian. Signs of a serious infection include: Green nasal/eye discharge, lethargy, not wanting to eat Hereditary non-infectious causes of a cough could be collapsing trachea or a heart defect. I would recommend seeing your vet, but calling first to let them know your pup may be contagious. Your vet will listen to her heart and lung sounds, then possible recommend x-rays to find out what is causing her cough. I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Majic needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. He could have a foreign body in his trachea, disease of his lungs/trachea like an infection, or even something called a collapsing trachea. Some of these causes can be life threatening and if he has an issue oral medications at home could make things worse.